Or 101 Things To Do With A Box . . .

Shaping is a method of clicker training where the trainer does nothing specific to lure the dog to get a certain behavior.  Using shaping is a great way to build your skill as a trainer, learn to break things into small parts and learn the advantages of rate of reinforcement.  Shaping is also great mental exercise for your dog because it requires problem solving and helps your dog “learn how to learn”.  One of the requirements to pass Step Three is that you will teach your dog a trick using shaping.

A favorite trainer game for shaping is 101 Things To Do With a Box.  Here is how it works:

Find a medium to large cardboard box.  With your dog out of the way (in another room, in a crate or tethered) open one end and set it on the floor.  Have a clicker and lots of tasty treats ready!

1. Bring your dog to the area where the box is.  If you are practicing in the house your dog should be off leash, outside keep a long leash on the dog for safety.  As soon as your dog notices the box (looks at it, begins to approach it) click and treat.
2. Continue to click and treat any time your dog looks at or approaches the box.  After about 10 reps give your dog a “jackpot” (several treats at once) and end the session. Be sure to take your dog out of the area before moving the box.
3. Set up your box the same as in step 2 and bring your dog in.  Like in step 2, the first few click and treats will be for just paying attention to the box.
4. Now withhold the click until your dog does something else with the box.  This could be anything! Some common behaviors your dog may offer include touching with his nose, circling the box, touching with his foot, biting/chewing, putting his head or foot in the box.  Any or all of these behaviors should be clicked and treated, as well as other more creative things your dog may come up with.
5. Once you and your dog gets good at “free shaping” (shaping no behavior in specific) try to pick a behavior to teach using shaping and the box.  An example is your dog puts a foot in the box, you click and treat.  This session just click and treat behaviors which involve putting a foot or feet into the box and see if you can shape your dog to put two or all four feet into the box.  Like any other behavior you can now practice this one in different sessions and add a cue once your dog does it consistently.  You could even fine tune it by making the box smaller so your dog has to work harder to get their feet in. Once your dog does a behavior on cue you do not have to reward it when it is offered without you asking for it- unless, of course you shape it into something else!

Keep practicing free shaping as well - most dogs really enjoy it.  You don’t have to use a box or any object.  Just watch your dog and when he offers a behavior such as wagging his tail, winking or turning his head, click and treat.

The more your practice shaping the better you and your dog will get at it!